Personal Smoking Device and Kit

ABSTRACT

A smoking system according to the invention includes a smoking substance holding or bowl end and a mouthpiece or tip end. The holding end defines a compartment for holding smoking material. The mouthpiece end defines a smoke egress and a filter or tip piece. The filter or tip piece comprises a compartment for a flavor piece. The flavor piece is crushable and holds a flavoring substance, usually a liquid. A substantial airtight piece conducts smoke from the substance holding end to the mouthpiece end where the smoke egresses. The smoke passes over the activated flavor piece which imparts a secondary flavor on the smoke.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of personal smoking devices, and more particularly to the field of apparatus for imparting secondary flavors to a smoke.

BACKGROUND

There are myriad smoking systems for personal pleasure. Some systems include the smoking substance, such as tobacco, in the commercially available product. Cigarettes and cigars are typical examples of this type of smoking system. In the case of cigarettes, the tobacco is contained within a tube of paper. In the case of cigars, the tobacco is contained in a tobacco leaf wrapper. It is a limitation of these systems that the user selects the flavor experience with the product. Seeking a different experience means the user selects a different product. It is another limitation of these products that the wrapper must be burned, which can impart unwanted flavors particularly in the context of paper wrappers.

In other systems, the user purchases the smoking apparatus without limitation to the smoking material. Tobacco pipes and hookahs are typical examples. In these cases, the user can separately acquire tobacco or other product to burn in the smoking system, thereby changing the flavor and experience profile. This system adds considerable flexibility; however, the available smoking materials may not offer an experience that a particular user enjoys. Also, pipe and hookah apparatus tend to be comparatively complex and comparatively expensive. Even a corncob pipe is not considered a readily disposable item and requires cleaning and maintenance. It's another limitation of these systems that the user is limited to the flavor profiles available in commercially available smoking product.

There is a need therefore for a simple and convenient smoking system that will permit an end user to select a smoking substance and a flavor profile in an easy to deploy and inexpensive apparatus.

SUMMARY

A smoking system according to the invention includes a smoking substance holding or bowl end and a mouthpiece or tip end. The holding end defines a compartment for holding smoking material. The mouthpiece end defines a smoke egress and a filter or tip piece. The filter or tip piece comprises a compartment for a flavor piece. The flavor piece is crushable and holds a flavoring substance, usually a liquid. A substantial airtight piece conducts smoke from the substance holding end to the mouthpiece end where the smoke egresses. The smoke passes over the activated flavor piece which imparts a secondary flavor on the smoke.

In a preferred embodiment, the substance holding end, airtight piece and mouthpiece end comprise a single tubular piece. Preferably the tubular piece is made of paper or some similar disposable material. Preferably the substance holding end is defined by an open end of the tubular piece and a dividing piece which defines the end of the substance holding end. Preferably the dividing piece is made from heat resistant material such as a metal and defines apertures to allow smoke to pass while substantially blocking the smoking material. In another aspect of the invention, the substance holding piece has an insertable section for inserting into the tubular piece and is sized to be held in place there. In yet another aspect a heat resistant bowl section protrudes from the tubular piece. It is an advantage of this embodiment that heat can be applied to the material of smoking without burning the paper tube, even if the bowl section is only partially filled.

Preferably the filter piece provides a smoke filter. Preferably the flavor imparting piece includes a flavor activation. In one embodiment, the flavor piece is a small round piece made from a plastic and contains flavoring. The flavoring is activated by crushing the flavor piece by compressing the appropriate area of the tubular piece. The liquid is absorbed by absorbent material in the tip end. As the user draws smoke, it passes over the released flavor.

Preferably the tubular piece material accepts ink or other such marking material such that the manufacturer can mark the piece with logos or labels. Labels could include the primary and secondary flavors.

The substance for smoking can be selected by the user and can include tobacco, herbs, dried flowers and other natural or synthetic material.

In another embodiment, the device is disposable.

In another embodiment, the device comes pre-loaded with substance and is refillable.

In another embodiment, the flavor ball is refillable.

In another embodiment, the tip can be inserted into other smoking apparatus.

In another embodiment components according to the invention are provided in tamper evident blister packaging such as in a kit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-E show a smoking apparatus according to the principles of the invention

FIGS. 2A and 2B show another embodiment according to the principles of the invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show another embodiment according to the principles of the invention.

FIGS. 4A to 4C shows exemplary packaging in another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5A to 5D shows an exemplary embodiment of a smoking device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-E show a smoking apparatus according to the principles of the invention. The exemplary smoking apparatus includes an outer paper tube with a stainless-steel grommet or bowl inserted into one end and tip components according to the invention in the mouthpiece end. The tip components include a paper bullet-style tip towards the mouthpiece end, layered with an acetate tube with crushable flavor balls inside, and another layer of acetate. In use, the user places smoking material into the stainless-steel bowl, and crushes the tip end to release the flavors contained inside of the flavor balls. The user then lights the smoking material inside the bowl and places their mouth on the opposite end to inhale. Preferably the device is disposable after a few or even on use.

The flavor balls can be of any desired shape. Preferably the outer shell of the ball is a plastic. The flavoring material is a liquid. The tip components preferably include an absorbent filtering material such as cotton surrounding or in proximity to the flavor ball. When the flavor ball is crushed releasing flavor liquid, the absorbent material absorbs the liquid. A user drawing on the smoking apparatus experiences the smoking material and the released flavor. As can be seen in the figures, more than on flavor ball can be included in the tip.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show another embodiment according to the principles of the invention. The illustrative smoking apparatus includes a tube with multiple restrictions and a tip according to the invention installed in the mouthpiece end. The opposite end is used as a glass bowl for placing smoking material. The tip consists of a paper bullet-style tip towards the mouthpiece end, layered with an acetate tube with crushable flavor balls inside, and another layer of acetate. In use, the user places smoking material into the glass bowl end, and crushes the tip before installing it into the opposite end. Once the tip is placed in the mouthpiece end, the user then lights the smoking material inside the bowl and places their mouth on the opposite end to inhale. The tips can be removed and replaced.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show another embodiment according to the principles of the invention. The illustrated glass smoking apparatus has an outer glass tube with a silicone gasket fixed to one end and an inner tube that can be manipulated to slide back and forth within the outer tube. A tip according to the principles of the invention can be placed in the end of the inner tube to add flavor to each use. The tip consists of a paper bullet-style tip towards the mouthpiece end, layered with an acetate tube with crushable flavor balls inside, and another layer of acetate. In use, the user slides the inner tube out to its extended position, allowing smoking material to be placed inside the larger tube on the opposite end. The user then lights the smoking material in the larger tube and uses the mouthpiece on the end of the inner tube to inhale. As the user smokes the material within the larger tube, the inner tube can be pushed into the outer tube to ash any expensed material. The tips can be removed and replaced.

FIGS. 4A to 4C shows exemplary packaging in another embodiment of the invention. The exemplary tamper evident packaging for smoking accessories including filter tips, glass filters, one hitters, and pipes that consists of a thin thermoformed plastic shell with cavities for the product, attached to a thin foil backing. The user can access the product by breaking the foil backing to each cavity and removing the product. Blister packaging is wrapped in a paper shell for transport and point of sale.

FIGS. 5A to 5D shows an exemplary embodiment of a smoking device according to the invention. In this embodiment, the smoking apparatus has an outer paper tube with a stainless-steel, or other heat resistant material, bowl inserted into one end and the tip components inserted in the other end. The tip components consist of a paper bullet-style tip towards the mouthpiece end, layered with an acetate tube with crushable flavor balls inside, and another layer of acetate. In use, the user places smoking material into the stainless-steel bowl, and crushes the tip end to release the flavors inside of the flavor balls. The user then lights the smoking material inside the bowl and places their mouth on the opposite end to inhale. These are meant for only a few uses before being disposed of.

The bowl of this embodiment presents numerous advantages to a bowl inserted flush with the paper tube. When igniting smoking materials in a bowl inserted flush to the paper tube, the ignition source is exposed to the paper and may ignite it. While a protective circumference may be provided, the ignition source remains in close proximity to the paper. Such a bowl should be filled to the brim so that the smoking materials are as close to the ignition source as possible. A user would consider such a bowl to hold a single quantity.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , the open end of the bowl is removed from the paper tube, thereby protecting the paper from accidental ignition. Further, the user may elect to partially fill the bowl with smoking materials, as the flame can be drawn into the bowl without igniting the paper. A user therefore has greater flexibility in choosing the quantity of smoking material, and a user would consider such a bowl to accommodate various quantities of smoking material.

In another embodiment of the invention, tips and apparatus as described may be sold as kits in the disclosed tamper evident packaging. The kits can further include flavors of different types. Thus, the kits contain all that is required to use the apparatus according to the invention. It is an advantage of the packaging that in the event any glass components break or shatter, the glass is contained within a safe compartment. The glass will not infiltrate the other compartments of the packaging, particularly any consumables or any material that may come in contact with the user. 

What is claimed is: 1-2. (canceled)
 3. A smoking device comprising: a tube having a bowl end having a bowl end aperture and a draw end having a draw end aperture; and, a bowl having a smoking material end, a tube insertion end, and a divider separating the smoking material end and the tube insertion end, the divider defining at least one aperture, and the smoking material end having a material holding space, wherein the tube insertion end is inserted into the bowl end aperture.
 4. The smoking device of claim 3 wherein the bowl comprises heat resistant material.
 5. The smoking device of claim 3 wherein the smoking material end and the tube insertion end define an exterior ridge and the bowl is inserted into the bowl end aperture to the exterior ridge such that the smoking material end substantially protrudes from the tube bowl end.
 6. The smoking device of claim 3 wherein the tube insertion end comprises an exterior peripheral dimension and the bowl end aperture comprises a peripheral aperture dimension substantially the same as the tube end exterior peripheral dimension.
 7. The smoking device of claim 3 wherein the tube comprises a disposable material.
 8. The smoking device of claim 3 further comprising a filter piece located at the draw end.
 9. The smoking device of claim 3 further comprising a flavor piece within the tube.
 10. The smoking device of claim 5 wherein the bowl end aperture and the tube insertion end are dimensioned to form a seal and the exterior ridge and a surface of the bowl end are in contact.
 11. The smoking device of claim 3 wherein the tube, bowl end and tube insertion end comprise a diameter dimension.
 12. The smoking device of claim 7 wherein the disposable material comprises paper.
 13. The smoking device of claim 8 wherein the filter piece defines a space for a flavor piece.
 14. The smoking device of claim 3 wherein the tube and bowl are sufficiently air tight such that an air draw on the draw end causes air to be drawn into the bowl end and to egress from the drawn end.
 15. The smoking device of claim 9 further comprising an absorbent material located near the draw end and the flavor piece comprises and activatable flavor element.
 16. The smoking device of claim 15 wherein the activatable flavor element comprises a crushable container and flavoring liquid within the crushable container.
 17. The smoking device of claim 16 wherein the tube comprises crushable paper.
 18. A method for operating the smoking device of claim 17 comprising: placing smoking material in the material holding space; crushing the activatable flavor element to release the flavoring liquid; absorbing the flavor liquid in the absorbent material; igniting the smoking material without burning the tube bowl end; and drawing smoke from the ignited smoking material such that the smoke mixes with the released flavors.
 19. The smoking device of claim 5 wherein an exterior peripheral dimension of the bowl smoking material end and an exterior dimension of the tube are approximately equal.
 20. A kit comprising: a smoking device comprising a tube having a bowl end and a draw end in airtight communication, the draw end having in interior peripheral dimension; at least one disposable filter piece having an exterior peripheral dimension such that the at least one filter piece is insertable into the draw end to form an air passage from the bowl end to the filter piece; and a tamper evident package defining compartments for the smoking device and the at least one filter piece.
 21. The kit of claim 20 wherein the smoking device comprises glass.
 22. The kit of claim 21 wherein the bowl end is formed within the tube and comprises a diameter less than a diameter of the tube. 